Do I Want a Hardwood Floor or an Engineered Floor?


So, after a lot of deliberation and looking, you’ve decided on installing new wood floors for your home. You love the beautiful, natural look of wood flooring, and you’re excited about the durability and reliability it provides. However, there’s one question that remains. Hardwood or engineered floors? You really can’t go wrong either way, but it’s important to distinguish the unique advantages of the two and make the best decision for your home.

Solid hardwood flooring is engineered from a single 3/4” plank of wood. Because it is derived directly from a tree, it will behave accordingly. Hardwood expands and contracts with your home’s humidity. As a result, it is installed with an expansion gap between the flooring and the wall. Base molding is often used to compensate and fill that gap. Hardwood is also more durable, and as a result is more expensive.

Engineered wood floors have become more commonplace over the last few years, as they offer several distinct advantages to hardwood floors. They consist of multiple layers of wood that are stacked cross-grain, which minimizes the expanding and shrinking that are commonplace in hardwood floors. Because it is designed in such a way, it is dense and more affordable, while being slightly less durable than hardwood.

It’s important to note that when an engineer looks at your home, it is divided into three distinct levels: On-grade (at ground level), Above grade (second level or higher), and Below grade (below ground level). While both hardwood and engineered wood are excellent solutions for on-grade and above grade levels, hardwood is not a recommended solution for below grade solutions due to potential moisture issues.

Either type of flooring will offer a variety of beautiful finishes and will increase the value of your home, while providing a timeless look that you will love. Both will require regular maintenance, but if properly maintained, will last you a generation or longer.

Topmark Floor and Design offers a vast selection of engineered and hardwood floors in Park City, Utah. Our spacious showroom is conveniently located in Downtown Park City, and our friendly sales team will help you find a solution that is right for you. Enjoy different colors, species, and finishes that suit any need, at prices that make sense for your family. We additionally offer an installation team who will come to your home and install your beautiful new floor in a friendly and professional manner.

Topmark Floor and Design is the solution for you and your family. Visit our Park City hardwood and engineered floor showroom today!